Wednesday, January 11, 2017

In 1940 he came, he saw, he conquered. Well, that is not terribly
accurate. He certainly came as a comic
book character and to his enraptured audience who followed
his exploits, he certainly conquered. But that was in an earlier,
more innocent time, a time when the world was still between the wars
and enjoying life was the concern of most people. After all they had
fought the great war and were entitled to some time off from world
politics. And Batman’s world? Well, its place was in the comic
books their children enjoyed!

But what of his world today? Well, he is still protecting Gotham,
and beating just about everyone except when he lost at cards to
the Joker in Season 2, Episode 18 "Almost Got 'Em" (Batman
disguised as a croc is famously pummelled by the Joker's Four
of a Kind before revealing his true identity -
classic).

But what position does he hold in our lives today? Does he still
relate as closely to us as he did at the time of his conception? Yes,
thanks to film directors and Hollywood he is as alive now as he was
77 years ago. The between the war years may have passed into dim and
distant memory but Batman is still out there doing what he does best,
fighting off evil, saving his city from the corrupt forces that want
to take over, ensuring that justice prevails.

And if that is what he is doing, then he must be a true hero for
our times. Because in similar fashion our world is as scary as the
1940’s world he was born into. We have had the horrors of 9/11, the
descent into the chaos of world terrorism, the scenarios of displaced
and distressed children, civil wars of brother against brother and
friend against friend.

Did the Hollywood Batman predict all of this or did he respond to
it? Who knows? And does it matter? What is obvious and significant is
that his movies mirror what is going on in the global sphere.
His defeat of Superman in the Dawn
of Justice 2016 may well be the struggle between ruling
partners when one partner decides to follow the corruption route. How
real is that? Flick on the News any morning and you will hear of that
scenario unfolding in one nation or another. Think of Joker who wants
to plunge the world into chaos. You won’t have to look very far for
the Joker in our midst. And in the middle of it all is Batman, who
with his cars and extra skills, wants to rid his world of this evil.

His role is ridding Gotham of corruption. Extend your minds for a
moment my friends. Imagine Gotham as your town or your country. Is
there anyone who could say, hand on heart, that we don’t need
Batman right now? I think I heard you say “No”, in fact I would
be very surprised if I hadn’t heard you say that. Who could object
to the solid values that this once upon a time comic book figure is
bringing us? His apparel may be outlandish to us and dare any of us
drive his cars but try applying his beliefs to our world and Wow!

And he is human too. Hard to believe, that but look at the very
human crises he has had to face. Losing his father in tragic
circumstances, overcoming his fear of bats with the mantra” feel
the fear and do it anyway”, struggling with the role he has been
given, always knowing that he wants an ordinary life but feeling
morally obliged to follow the role he feels has been laid down for
him.

Relevant to our times? Heck yes, very much yes. Almost two decades
into the century we need Batman to spread his creed now more than
ever. And to spread it in a way that will make people sit up and
listen. Hollywood - we are depending on you to do the necessary.